Polycyclic alcohols

ABSTRACT

Tricyclo(5,4,0,03,9)undec-2-ols, tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undec-2ols, 2H-1-benzopyrans and benzofurans which are useful in the perfumery art and a process for their preparation from tricyclo(5,4,0,03,9)undec-2-ones and tricyclo(5,4,0,03,8)undec-2ones.

Unlted States Patent 1 n 1 3,925,486 Greuter et al. [4 Dec. 9, 1975 POLYCYCLIC ALCOHOLS [51] Int. Cl. C07C 35/22 75 wenmrs: Hans Gran", Horgen; Georg [58] Field of Search 260/617 F Frater, Greifensee; Hans Schmid, v Schwerzenbach, all of Switzerland llmmmfr Donald Daus 4 Assixtam E,tuminerD, B. Sprmger [73] Asslgnee: floflmann'la Roche Nuuey Attorney, Agent or FirrnSamueI Lw Wcll; Jon 5.

Suxe; Richard A, Guither [22] Filed: Nov. 7, I972 21 I. N .I 2 I 1 App 0 304 40 57 ABSTRACT Tricyclol5,4,0.0"']undec-Z-uls, tricycle/5.3,!,0"']un- [30] Foreign Appl" :at|0n Pnomy Data dec-Zols, 2H-l-benz0pyrans 11nd henzofurzms which f are useful in the erfumery art and a process for their 3563/72 preparation from tricyclof5,4,0,0-]undcc2-0nes and July 261972 Switzerland .6 HI46/72 i y lq5,4,0 0 '"]undec-20nes. [52] US. Cl. 260/617 F; 252/522; 260/3452;

260/346.2; 260/488 B; 260/586 M; 260/586 R; 260/590; 260/611 F; 260/618 R; 260/63l R 1] Claims, N0 Drawings POLYCYCLIC ALCOHOLS SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON This invention relates to polycyclic compounds of the includes lower alkanoyl groups containing from 2-6 formulae:

herein R R and R are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; R, is hydrogen, lower alkyl, or lower alkenyl; R and R are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or lower alkyl; R, and R are independently lower alkyl; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or phenyl; R is hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower alkanoyl and wherein the dotted bond can be optionally hydrogenated.

The compounds of formulae l-A, l-B, l-C and 1-D above have a coumarin or hay-like odor and they show, in particular, lovage-like notes reminiscent of fig tree foilage and light tobacco. The compounds of formulae l-A, l-B, LC and l-D above because of their fragrance are useful in the preparation of perfumes, colognes and other scented compositions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE lNVENTlON As used in this application, the expression lower alkyl" includes both straight-chain and branched-chain hydrocarbon groups containing l-6 carbon atoms such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, pentyl, 3-pentyl and the like. The alkyl moieties in the lower alkoxy groups are of the same kind. The expression lower alkenyl includes both straight-chain and branchedchain hydrocarbon groups containing 2-6 carbon carbon atoms such as acetyl, propionyl, etc.

Preferred compounds of formulae LA and 1-8 above are those in which R R and R, each represent a lower alkyl group, preferably a methyl group. Also preferred are those compounds wherein R,, R, and R are lower alkyl, particularly methyl, and R is hydrogen, vinyl or methyl. Another preferred embodiment of this invention are those compounds of formulae l-A or ]-B where R,, R R and R are lower alkyl, preferably methyl; those compounds where R R R and R are lower alkyl, preferably methyl, and those compounds where R, R Rhd 5, R and R are lower alkyl, preferably methyl. Especially preferred tricyclic ketones are:

I I l l l ,3,6-tetramethyl-tricyclol5,4,0,0']undeca-5,l0-

ien-Z-ol'.

3 l,2,3,fi-tetramethyl-tricyclol 5,3,l ,O]undeca-5,9-

dien-Z-ol; l,2,3, l O-tetramethyl-tricyclol 5,4,(),O ]undeca5, l-

dien 2-ol; l,2,3,9-tctramethyl-tricyclo[ 5,3,1 ,()=""]undeca-5,9-

dicn-2ol; l,2,3,b, l (l-pentamethyl-tricyclol ,4,0,() "]undeca- 5, l U-dien-Z-ol; l,3,o-trimethyl-2-vinyl-tricyclol 5,4,0,0 "]undeca- 5, l O-dien-Z-ol', l,3,6 trimethyl-2 vinyl-tricyclol 5,3, l ,()"]undeca-5,9-

dicn-2-ol; l,2,3,b-tetramethyl-tricyclol 5,4,U,O'"]undecan-Z-ol; l,2,3,o-tetramethyl-tricyclol5,3,1,ll lundecan-2-ol; l ,2,3, lU-tetramethyl-tricyclol 5,4,(),0"]undecan-2-ol; l,2,3,9-tetramethyl-tricyclol 5,3, l ,O lundecan-lol',

and l,3,b-trimethyl2-vinyl tricyclol 5 ,4,0,U']undecan-2- ol According to the process provided by the present invention, the polycyclic compounds of formulae l-A, l-B, l-C and l-D above are produced by a. reducing a ketone of the formulae:

II-A

wherein R R R R R R R and R are as above;

and the dotted bond can be optionally hydrogenated; with a complex metal hydride or b. reacting a ketone of formula ll-A or formula "-8 with a compound of the formula Me-R Ill wherein R is lower alkyl, lower alkenyl or phenyl; and Me is lithium, sodium or MgX; and X is chlo rine, bromine or iodine",

c. hydrogenating a polycyclic compound of formulae l-A, l-B, LC or l-D which contains at least one oleflnic double-bond in the presence of a noble metal catalyst,

d. lower alkylating or lower alkanoylating the hydroxyl group in a polycyclic compound of formulae l-A or 1-3 in which R represents a hydrogen atom, or

e. treating a polycyclic compound of formula L8 in which R represents a hydrogen atom in which a 5,6- double bond is present with mercury-(ll) acetate in tetrahydrofuran to produce a compound of the formulae l-C and l-D.

For the manufacture of polycyclic compounds of formulae LA and [-8 in accordance with embodiment (a) of the present process, the carbonyl group in ketone of formulae ll-A or ll-B is reduced with a complex metal hydride. As the complex metal hydride there can be II-B used, for example, an alkali metal borohydridc such as sodium borohydride or lithium borohydride, an alkaline earth metal borohydride such as calcium borohydride, an alkali metal aluminum hydride such as lithium aluminum hydride or diisobutyl aluminum hydride, preferably bis-( methoxy-ethyl ene-oxy )-sodiu maluminum hydride. For the reduction with a complex metal hydride, a ketone starting material of formulae ll-A or ll-B is dissolved in an inert solvent such as, for example, tetrahydrofuran, dioxan, diethyl ether, hex ane, toluene or xylene. When bis-(methoxyethylencoxy)-sodium-aluminum hydride is used as the complex metal hydride the ketone starting material is dissolved in benzene. Advantageously, the reduction agent is dissolved in the same solvent in which the ketone starting material has been dissolved and added to the solution of said ketone. Preferably, the complex metal hydride is employed in a molar excess. The temperature at which the reduction is carried out can vary in wide ranges. Depending on the ketone starting material and complex metal hydride, the reduction is carried out at a temperature between C. and +C. in general, a temperature between 20C. and 80C. is preferred.

The reaction of a ketone of formulae ll-A or "-8 with a compound of formula ill in accordance with embodi ment (b) of the present process is carried out in an inert solvent under conditions which are conventional for carrying out Grignard reactions. Preferred solvents are diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran and toluene. A preferred temperature range for this reaction lies between 20C. and l20 C. Conveniently, moisture is excluded and the reaction is carried out in the atmosphere of a protecting gas, preferably nitrogen.

In accordance with embodiment (c) of the present process, a polycyclic compound of formulae LA, [-8, l-C or l-D which contains at least one olefinic doublebond is hydrogenated in the presence of a noble metal catalyst. For this purpose, such a compound of formulae l-A, LB, LC or l-D is dissolved in an inert solvent and the mixture treated with a noble metal catalyst such as, for example, platinum oxide, mixtures of platinum oxide and platinum black, rhodium (on carbon or aluminum oxide) and especially palladium (on carbon). The hydrogen is introduced in the conventional manner and the hydrogenation terminated after the up take of l or 2 moles of hydrogen. If the hydrogenation of a polycyclic compound of formula 1-8 which contains two olefinic double-bonds is interrupted after the uptake of l mole of hydrogen, then only the doublebond in the l0,l l-position will have been completely saturated,

The etherification and the esterification of the hydroxyl group in a polycyclic compound of formulae l-A and l-B in which R is hydrogen in accordance with embodiment (d) of the present process is carried out according to conventional methods of etherification and esterification.

The compounds of formulae LC and 1-D above are produced by embodiment (e) from the compound of formula l-B where R, is hydrogen and a 5,6-double bond is present. The reaction of embodiment (e) is carried out by treating the compound of the formula 1-3 with mercury ll acetate in tetrahydrofuran (see H. C. Brown et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. Vol. 91 (1969) p. 5646).

ln reaction of embodiment (e) the compounds of formulae l-C and 1-D are produced as a mixture. This mixture can be separated into the compounds of formulae l-C and 1-D by conventional methods such as chromatography.

The compounds of formulae ll-A and "-8 can be prepared from compounds of the formulae:

wherein R R R R,,, R, R R, and R are as above;

and the dotted bond can be optionally hydrogenated.

The compounds of formulae lV above, can be cyclized to form a mixture of compounds of the formula ll-A and formula "-3 above by heating the compound of the formula IV above. Generally, heating is carried out at a temperature of from 40 to 200 centigrade. In carrying out this reaction, temperatures of from 60 centigrade to 100 centigrade are preferred. However, the preferred temperature utilized in this cyclization will depend upon the particular starting material of formulae IV above which is utilized. Therefore, the preferred reaction temperature depends upon the nature of the substituents R R R R R R R and R in the compounds of the formula IV above and the particular solvent. For instance, when R in the starting material of formula [V is methyl, better yields can be obtained in a shorter time than with the corresponding compound of formula [V where R is hydrogen. The same is true for the reaction temperature. Thus, for best results in terms of yields, a decrease of the reaction time can be dispensed with in favor of a reduction of the reaction temperature. Also increasing the pressure will decrease the reaction time necessary to obtain optimum yields of the compounds of the formulae ll-A and ][-B.

While reaction temperatures of 40 centigrade to about 200 centigrade are generally utilized, the reaction can also take place at temperatures below 40 centigrade. However, at temperatures below 40 centigrade, the rate of the reaction is slow requiring long reaction times. Thus, the utilization of temperatures below 40 centigrade makes the process not practical for large scale purposes.

The compounds of formulae ll-A and "-8 are formed from the compounds of the formulae IV by heating the compounds of the formula W in an inert organic solvent. ln carrying out this reaction, any conventional inert organic solvent can be utilized. Generally, it is preferred to utilize inert organic solvents boiling above 40 centigrade. Among the preferred inert organic solvents are hydrocarbons such as hexane, octane, decane, benzene, toluene, etc.; halogenated hydrocarbons such as chloroform, methylenechloride, carbontetrachloride and chlorobenzene; ethers such as dioxane, tetrahydrofuran and anisole; amines such as aniline, dimethylaniline, triethylamine, pyridine, and quinoline; amides such as dimethylformamide, tetramethylurea or hexamethylphosphoric acid triamide; nitriles such as benzonitrile, acetonitrile, etc; esters such as ethylacetate, butylacetate, etc.; ketones such as acetone, diethylketone and cyclohexanone; or a similar inert organic solvent such as dimethylsulfoxide, tetrahydrothiophene dioxide. When a low-boiling solvent is used, heating is conveniently carried out in an autoclave or a bomb tube so that the temperature can be raised in order to avoid unnecessary long reacting times.

In carrying out this reaction, it is generally best to avoid temperatures above 200 centigrade. This is true since at high temperatures, decomposition of the starting material and/or the product can set in.

If desired, the process can be carried out in the presence of a Lewis acid. Any conventional Lewis acid can be utilized in carrying out the process. Examples of Lewis acids which can be used are the protons, aluminum chloride, zinc chloride, tin tetrachloride, antimony chloride, iron trichloride, boron trifluoride, boron trifluoride etherate, etc. It is frequently advantageous to use as the proton donator a phenol corresponding to the starting material of formulae lV.

By heating the compound of the formulae IV a mixture of the compound of the formulae ll-A and [L8 is formed. The separation of this mixture into the individual components can be carried out by conventional means such as chromatography. Any conventional method of chromatography can be utilized to carry out this separation. A preferred method is by chromatography on silica gel with hexane/ethyl acetate (8:2 parts by volume) being an especially elution agent. The mixture can also be separated by distillation. Any conventional method of distillation such as distillation in a high vacuum can be utilized. The tricyclic ketone of formula "-8 can be obtained in pure form by crystallization from saturated hydrocarbons such as pentane or hexane. It is preferred to carry out the chromatography or distillation step after the major amount of the tricyclic ketone of formula [l-B has been crystallized. By this procedure of crystallization, an enrichment of thetricyclic ketone of formula [LA in the mixture is accomplished prior to separation by chromatography or distillation.

Where the tricyclic ketone of formula Il-A or formula "-8 contains at least one double bond, this compound may, if desired, be hydrogenated in the presence of a noble metal catalyst. Any conventional noble metal hydrogenation catalyst can be utilized for this purpose. In carrying out this hydrogenation, the appropriate tricyclic ketone of formula ll-A or formula "-8 can be dissolved in an inert organic solvent, and the mixture treated with a noble metal catalyst. Any conventional inert organic solvent can be utilized for this purpose. Among the preferred noble metal hydrogenation catalysts are included platinum oxide, platinum black, mixtures of platinum oxide and platinum black, rhodium alone or on a support such as carbon or aluminum oxidev Especially preferred as a catalyst for use in this process is palladium, alone or on a support such as carbon. The hydrogen is introduced in the usual manner and the hydrogenation terminated after the uptake of one or two moles of hydrogen. If the hydrogenation of a tricyclic ketone of formula "-8 is interrupted after the uptake of one mole of hydrogen, then only the double bond in the l0, ll-positions will have been saturated.

The compounds of formula IV are prepared by reacting the sodium salt of a phenol of the formula:

OH R l V R R8 wherein R,, R R R and R are as above; with a compound of the formula:

wherein R R and R are as above; and X is chlorine, bromine, iodine or aryl sulfonyloxy or lower alkyl sulfonyloxy; In carrying out this reaction, any conventional inert organic solvent can be used as the reaction medium. Among the preferred inert organic solvents is included aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, chlorobenzene and toluene.

According to a preferred embodiment of carrying out this reaction a phenol of formula V is dissolved, for example, in benzene and the solution treated with sodium hydride. After salt-formation has occurred, a compound of formula V1 is introduced and the mixture is stirred for several hours at a temperature between 0 centigrade and 40 centigrade. Thereafter, the reaction mixture is poured on to water and shaken out with a strong base in order to remove the phenolic constituents. The organic phase is evaporated and the residue purified in the usual manner. As will be evident from the foregoing, the symbol X in formula VI stands for a leaving atom or group. Preferably, X stands for a bromine atom or a tosyloxy or mesyloxy group.

The tricyclic ketones of formulae l-A and LB pro vided by the present invention possess particular odor- 8 ant properties, their odor being coumarin or hay-like and, in particular. show lovage-like notes reminiscent of fig foilage and light tobacco.

The compounds of formulae l-A, [-8, LC and LO are utilized to impart fragrance to various materials such as cosmetics, perfume oils, soaps, lotions, detergents, etc. These compounds are incorporated into various materials in olfactory amounts to impart fragrance to the material. Also, these scented compositions can contain conventional perfume carriers and perfume diluents. Any conventional perfume carrier and perfume diluent can be utilized in preparing scented compositions in ac' cordance with this invention.

The compounds of formulae l-A, l-B, l-C and l-D can be used in the manufacture of a wide variety of odorant compositions. They can be used, in particular, as components of perfume bases for modern lines (e.g., for bases of hay-, Tobacco-or honey-like character) as well as for fougere, chypre and lavender bases. Furthermore, the character of compositions having, for example, flower notes, especially hyacinth, gardenia, violet and lavender notes, can be altered or intensified with the aid of the present tricyclic ketones. These tricyclic ketones harmonize well in compositions with cournarins, ionones and rare wood essences such as vetiver oil, sandalwood oil or patchouli oil. The compounds of formulae LA, I-B, LC and I-D also possess fixative properties.

The amounts in which the compounds of formulae I-A, l-B, l-C and I-D can be used in odorant compositions vary within wide limits. ln perfume bases they can be used, for example, in amounts of about 2 40 weight percent and in finished products such as perfumes, lotions, etc., they can be present in an amount of from about l5 percent. For the perfuming of technical products (e.g., solid and liquid detergents, synthetic washing agents, aerosols or cosmetic products of all kinds such as soaps), there can in general be used about 0.1-0.3 weight percent (in the case of washing agents) or about 0.82 percent (in the case of soaps) of such perfume bases.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention also includes within its scope an odorant composition which contains as an essential odorimparting ingredient or essential odor-imparting ingredients one or more of the polycyclic compounds of for mulae LA, [-13, I-C or l-D. Further, this invention also includes a method of imparting an odor to materials by applying thereto or incorporating therein an odorimparting amount of one or more of the compounds of formulae l-A, l-B, l-C or l-D hereinbefore or an odorant composition as hereinbefore defined.

The following examples are illustrative but not limitative of the invention. All temperatures are in degrees centigrade.

EXAMPLE 1 0.1 mol of l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclol5,4,0,0 ,]undeca-S, l0-dien-2-one is dissolved in 40 ml of benzene and treated with ml of a 60 percent by weight solution of bis-(methoxy-ethyleneoxy)-sodium aluminum hydride in benzene. The mixture is heated to reflux for 2 hours, the excess hydride decomposed with alcohol and the mixture thereafter poured into 1 liter of icewater. The mixture obtained is extracted with n-hexane/dicthyl ether (lzl parts by volume), the organic phase washed neutral with water, dried and evaporated. The residue is distilled in a high vacuum (0.03

mmHg). There is obtained l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclol5,4,0,O ,]undeca-5,l-dien-2-ol of boiling point 68-72C/0.03 mmI-lg.

EXAMPLE 2 By the procedure of Example 1:

l ,3 ,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0 ]undeca-5,9-dien- 2-one is converted to 1,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,l,0 ]undeca-5,9-dien-2-ol of boiling point 68-72C/0.03 mmHg;

1 ,3,l0-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0", ]undeca-5,l0-dien- 2-one is converted to 1,3,10-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0, ]undeca-5,l0dien-2-ol of boiling point 68-72C/0.03 mmHg;

l,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclo[5 ,3,l ,0 ]undeca-5 ,9-dien- 2-one is converted to 1,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,l,0,]undeca-5,9-dien-2-ol of boiling point 68-72C/0.03 mmHg;

l,3,6,l 0-tetramethyltricyclo[ 5 ,4,O,0 ]undeca-5, l 0

dien2-one is converted to l,3,6,IO-tetramethyl-tricyclo[ 5 ,4,0,0, ]-undeca-5, l 0-dien-2-ol of boiling point 7075C/0.03 mmHg;

1 ,3 ,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[ 5 ,4,O,0 ]undecan-2-one is converted to l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclol5,49,0 ]undecan-2-ol of boiling point 8286C/0.03 mmHg;

1 ,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0 ,"]undecan-2-one is converted to l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,l ,0,- lundecan-Z-ol of boiling point 8387C/0.03 mmHg;

1 ,3,l0-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0 ,]undecan-2-one is converted to l,3, l 0-trimethyl-tricyclo[5 3,0,0,- lundecan-Z-ol of boiling point 88-90C/0.03 mmHg;

1 ,3 ,Q-trimethyl-tricyclol 5 ,3,l ,0, }undecan-2-one is converted to l ,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,l ,0,- lundecan-2-ol of boiling point 8589C/0.03 mmHg;

l ,3 ,6, l 0-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5 ,4,0,0 ,]undecan- 2-one is converted to l,3,6,l0-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0 ,]undecan-2-ol of boiling point 9095C/0.03 mmHg.

EXAMPLE 3 5 g. of 6-(3-methyl-penta-2,4-dienyl)-2,6-dimethylcyclohexa-2,4-dien-l-one are dissolved in 25 ml of benzene and treated with 5 g of 2,6-dimethylphenol. The mixture is heated at reflux for 6 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the mixture is shaken out portionwise with a solution of 35 g of potassium hydroxide, 25 ml of water and I00 ml of methanol. The organic phase is concentrated and the residue distilled at 7090C/0.03 mmHg. The distillate contains l,3,6- trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0,]undeca-5,l0-dien-2-one and l,3 ,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[ 5,3 l ,0 ,]undeca-5,9- dien-Z-one in the approximate proportion 3:1 parts by volume.

This 3:] mixture is dissolved in equal parts by volume of hexane or pentane and cooled to -30C. The firstnamed solid ketone separates out to a large extent with scratching. Concentration of the filtrate and repetition of this operation yields further crystals of this ketone. The composition of the mixture of the foregoing ketones thereby changes from 3:1 to approximately 1:3. The ultimate separation is carried out by chromatography on silica gel using hexane/ethyl acetate (8:2 parts by volume) as the elution agent. There are thus obtained l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5 ,4,0,0,]undeca-5,l 0- dien2-one of melting point 54-5 5C and l ,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,l ,0 ,]undeca-5,9-dien-2-one of boiling point 75C/0.03 mmHg.

EXAMPLE 4 By the procedure of Example 3:

6-( penta-2 ,4-dienyl )-2,4 ,6-trimethyl-cyclohexa-2,4-

dien-l-one is converted to l,3,l0-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0,]undeca-5,l0-dien-2-one of melting point 49-50C and I ,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,l ,0,"]undeca-5,9-dien-2-one of boiling point 7075C/0.03 mmHg (reaction time 48 hours); and

6-( 3-methyl-penta-2,4-dienyl )-2 ,4,6-trimethylcyclohexa-2,4-dien-l-one is converted to l,3,6,l0- tetramethyl-tricyclo-[ 5 ,4,0,0 ,]undeca-5 l O-dien- 2-one of melting point 83-86 C and l,3,6,9-tetramethyl-tricyclol 5,3,1 ,0) lundeca-5-9-dien-2-one of boiling point 7075C/0.03 mmHg (reaction time 12 hours).

EXAMPLE 5 A 1 molar solution of 2,6-dimethylphenol in benzene is treated with sodium hydride and, after termination of the hydrogen evolution, the mixture is treated with a l0 percent molar excess of 3-methyl-penta-2,4-dienyl lbromide. After stirring overnight at 05C, the mixture is taken up in ether and shaken out with water, 10 percent by weight aqueous potassium hydroxide solution and with water. The dried organic phase contains 6-(3- methylpenta-2,4-dienyl)-2,6-dimethyl-cyclohexa-2,4- dien-l-one which accrues in a -90 percent yield. The dienone can be stored in solution at -l0C, but it is unstable in concentrated form and at higher temperatures. [U.V. in n-hexane: maxima at 2,300A (e= 22,000) and 3,050A (e= 4,270)].

EXAMPLE 6 By the procedure in Example 5:

2,4,6-trimethyl-phenol and penta-2,4-dienyll -bromide is converted to 6-(penta-2,4-dienyl)-2,4,6-trimethylcyclohexa-2,4-dien-l-one; [U.V. in n-hexane: maxima at 2,250 A (e 26,200) and 3,] 30 A (e= 4460)]; and

2,4,6-trimethylphenol and 3-methyl-penta-2,4-dienyll-bromide is converted to 6-(3-methyl-penta-2,4- dienyl)-2,4,6-trimethyl-cyclohexa-2,4-dien-l -one; [U.V. in n-hexane: maxima at 2,290 A (e 2,350) and 3,100 A (e 4,400)].

EXAMPLE 7 2.5 g of l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0",]undeca- 5,10-dien-2-one are dissolved in l0 ml of diethyl ether and treated with 10 ml of 5 percent by weight methyl lithium solution in diethyl ether. The mixture is heated to reflux for 5 hours, the excess methyl lithium decomposed with ethyl alcohol and the mixture thereafter poured into 100 ml of water. The organic phase is separated, washe l neutral with water, dried and evaporated. The rsidue is distilled in a bulb tube at 004 mmHg. There is obtained l,2,3,o-tetramethyl tricyclo[5,4,0,0,]undeca-5,l0-dien-2-ol of boiling point -95C/0.04 mmHg.

EXAMPLE 8 By the procedure of Example 7:

1,3 ,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[ 5,3 ,1 ,O ,]undeca-5,9-dien- 2-one is converted to l,2,3,G-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,3,l,0 ]undeca-5,9dien-2-ol of boiling point 90-95C/0.04 mmHg;

1 ,3,1O-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0 ]undeca-5,l O-dien- 2-one is converted to 1,2,3,lO-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0 ,]undeca-5,l0-dien-2-ol of boiling point 9095C/0.04 mmHg;

1,3 ,9-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,1,O ,"]undeca-5,9-dien- 2-one is converted to 1,2,3,9-tetramethyl-tricyc1o[5,3,l,OKlundeca-S-9-dien-2-ol of boiling point 9095C/0.04 mmHg;

1 ,3,6,10-tetramethy1-tricyclo[5 ,4,0,0",]undeca-5, l 0- dien-Z-one is converted to l,2,3,6,l0-pentamethy1- tricyclol ,4,0,0'', l-undeca-S ,10-dien-2-ol;

1,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[ 5,4,0,0 ,]undeca-5 1 O-dien- 2-one with vinyl lithium (8.6 percent by weight solution of vinyl lithium in tetrahydrofuran) is converted to 1 ,3 ,6-trimethyl-2-vinyltricyclo[ 5 ,4,(),0 ,]undeca- 5,10-dien-2-ol of boiling point ll6-120C/0.1 mmHg.

1,3 ,6-trimethyl-tricyc1ol5,3 ,1 ,0 ,]undeca-5 ,9-dien- 2-one is converted to l,3,6-trimethyl-2-vinyl-tricyc1o{5,3,l ,0 ]-undeca-S,9-dien-2-ol of boiling point I 16120C/O.l mmHg;

1 ,3 ,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[ 5 ,4,0,0",]undecan-2-one is converted to 1,2,3,6-tetramethyl-tricyclo[540,0 ]undecan 2-ol of boiling point 8588C/0.03 mmHg;

1 ,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0 ]undecan-2-0ne is converted to l ,2,3 ,6-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,3, 1 ,0,- ]undecan-2-ol of boiling point 8486C/0.03 mmHg;

1,3,l0-trimethyl-tricyclo{ 5,4,0,0 ,]undecan-2-one is converted to -1 ,2,3, l 0-tetramethy1'tricyclo[ 540,0 ]undecan-2-ol of boiling point 82-8SC/0.03 mmHg;

1 ,3,9-trimethy1-tricyclo[5,3,1 ,0,]un decan-2-one is converted to l,2,3,9-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0,- "]undecan-2-ol of boiling point 8l85C/0.03 mmHg; and

l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0,]undecan-2-one with vinyl lithium is converted to 1,3,6-trimethyl2-viny1 tricycle-[5,4,0,0,"]undecan-2-o1 of boiling point 110-115C/0.1 mmHg.

EXAMPLE 9 16 g of l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0Klundeca- 5,9-dien-2-one are dissolved in 250 ml of methanol and hydrogenated in the presence of l g of Pd/C (5 percent). After uptake of 2 mols of hydrogen, the mixture is filtered off from the catalyst, evaporated and distilled. The distillate contains 1,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0, ]undecan-2-one of boiling point 68-70C/0.05 mml-lg. (A ca 4:1 parts by volume mixture of the isomers at carbon atom 6).

EXAMPLE By the procedure of Example 9 1,3, l 0-trimethyl-tricyclo[ 5 ,4,0,0, ]undeca-5- l O-dien- 2-one is converted to l,3,l0-trimethy1-tricy clo[5,4,0,0 ,]-undecan-2-one of boiling point 68-70C/0.05 mmHg;

12 l,3,6-trimethy1-tricyclo[5,4,0,0, ]undeca-5-IO-dien is converted to l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,43,0 ]undecan-2-one of boiling point 7275C/0.05 mmHg; and 1,3 ,9-trimethyl-tricyclo[5 ,3,l ,0",]undeca-5 ,9-dien- 2-one is converted to 1,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclol5,3,l,O ,]undecan-2-one of boiling point 68-70C/0.05 mmHg.

EXAMPLE 1 l 2 g of l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0 ]undeca-5- 10-dien-2-ol are dissolved in 30 ml of methanol and hydrogenated in the presence of 0.2 g of 5 percent by weight palladium on 95 percent by weight carbon. After the uptake of 2 mols of hydrogen, the mixture is filtered off from the catalyst, evaporated and distilled. The distillate contains 1 ,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,O ]undecan-2-ol of boiling point 8286C/0.03 mml-lg.

EXAMPLE 12 By the procedure of Example 11 2-01 is converted to 1,3,10-trimethyl-tricyc1o[5,4,0,0 ,]undecan-2-ol of boiling point 82-85C/0.03 mmHg; and

1 ,3,9-trimethyl-tricyc1o[5,3 ,l ,0

,"]undeca-5,9-dien-2-ol is converted to 1,3,9-

trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,l,0,"]undecan-2-ol of boiling point 81-85C/0.03 mmHg.

EXAMPLE 13 2.04 g of l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,0,0",]undeca- 5,10-dien-2-ol are dissolved in 20 ml of dimethoxyethane and treated with two equivalents of sodium hydride. The mixture is heated to reflux until hydrogen evolution is no longer to be observed and thereafter treated at room temperature with 2 ml of ethyl iodide. The mixture is heated under reflux for a further 14 hours and subsequently worked up as usual, i.e., poured into a water/ice mixture, extracted twice with hexane and the mixture, consisting of ca percent by weight product and ca20 percent by weight by-product,

chromatographed on silica gel with hexane/ethyl acetate (7:3 parts by volume). There is obtained 2- methoxy-l ,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,O,0 ]undeca- 5,10-diene of boiling point 6366C/0.04 mmHg.

EXAMPLE 14 2.04 g of l,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,O,0 ,]undeca- 5,10-dien-2-ol are treated in 20 ml of dimethoxyethane with an equivalent amount of sodium hydride and heated (6070C) until hydrogen evolution is no longer to be observed. After cooling to room temperature, 0.78 g of acetyl chloride dissolved in 2 ml of dimethoxyethane are added dropwise. A vigorous reaction thereby sets in. After 30 minutes, the mixture is poured into ice-water and shaken out twice with hexane. The dried and evaporated hexane phase is chromatographed on silicagel with hexane/ethyl acetate (7:3 parts by volume). There is obtained Z-acetoxy- 1,3 ,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[ ,4,O,0", ]undeca-5,1O-diene of boiling point 9095C/0.04 mmHg.

EXAMPLE l5 3 g of 1,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,4,O,0 ]undeca- 5,10-dien-2-ol were dissolved in 150 ml of anhydrous tetrahydrofuran and treated with 4.7 g (1.47 10' M01) of mercury (ll) acetate. The mixture was stirred for 24 hours at room temperature and thereafter treated with 50 ml of l N sodium hydroxide solution and 50 ml of a 2 percent by weight solution of sodium borohydride in ethyl alcohol whereby elemental mercury separated out. The mixture was filtered off from the mercury and extracted with hexane. The hexane phase was dried and evaporated and the residual colorless oil was distilled: boiling point 80-85C/0.03 mmHg. There was obtained a mixture of 3,4,4a,7,8,8ahexahydro-3,4a,8-trimethyl-2,8:4, 7-dimethano-2l-l-1- benzopyran (2 C epimers) and 2,3,3a,6,7,7a-hexahydro-2,3a7-trimethyl-2,7-ethano-3,o-methano-benzofuran. The separation of this mixture into the pyran and furan derivatives was carried out by preparative gas chromatography. The boiling point of each derivative was 80-85C/0.03 mmHg.

EXAMPLE 16 The following Example illustrates a typical odorant composition containing one of the polycyclic compounds provided by this invention:

Odorant composition containing l,2,3,6-tetramethyltricyclol 5 ,3 ,1 ,0 ]undeca-5 ,9-dien-2-ol:

14 The composition possesses a fresh-green fancy note with a woody foundation and can be used, for example, for the perfuming of mens soaps.

We claim: 1. A compound of the formula:

wherein R R and R are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, or lower alkyl; R is hydrogen, or lower alkyl; R and R are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or lower alkyl; R and R are independently lower alkyl; R is hydrogen, or lower alkyl; and wherein the dotted bonds can be optionally hydrogenated and wherein lower alkyl has 1-6 carbon atoms.

2. The compound of claim 1 wherein R R and R are lower alkyl and R is hydrogen, or methyl.

3. The compound of claim 2 wherein said compound is 1,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0 "]undeca-5 ,9-dien- 2-ol.

4. The compound of claim 2 wherein said compound is 1,3 ,6-trimethyl-tricyclo[ 5 ,3,1 ,0"]undecan-2-ol.

5. The compound of claim 2 wherein said compound is l,2,3,6-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0"' ]undeca-5,9- dien-Z-ol.

6. The compound of claim 2 wherein said compound is 1,2,3,6-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0 lundecan-2-ol.

7. The compound of claim 2 wherein R., R and R are lower alkyl.

8. The compound of claim 7 wherein said compound is l ,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0"']undeca-5,9-dien- 2-ol.

9. The compound of claim 7 wherein said compound is 1,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0 lundecan-2-ol.

10. The compound of claim 7 wherein said compound is 1,2,3,9-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0 lundeca-5,9-dien-2-ol.

11. The compound of claim 7 wherein said compound is 1,2,3,9-tetramethyl-tricyclo[5,3,1,0'"]undecan-Z-ol. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA:
 2. The compound of claim 1 wherein R2, R5 and R6 are lower alkyl and R9 is hydrogen, or methyl.
 3. The compound of claim 2 wherein said compound is 1,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undeca-5,9-dien-2-ol.
 4. The compound of claim 2 wherein said compound is 1,3,6-trimethyl-tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undecan-2-ol.
 5. The compound of claim 2 wherein said compound is 1,2,3,6-tetramethyl-tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undeca-5,9-dien-2-ol.
 6. The compound of claim 2 wherein said compound is 1,2,3,6-tetramethyl-tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undecan-2-ol.
 7. The compound of claim 2 wherein R1, R5 and R6 are lower alkyl.
 8. The compound of claim 7 wherein said compound is 1,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undeca-5,9-dien-2-ol.
 9. The compound of claim 7 wherein said compound is 1,3,9-trimethyl-tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undecan-2-ol.
 10. The compound of claim 7 wherein said compound is 1,2,3,9-tetramethyl-tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undeca-5,9-dien-2-ol.
 11. The compound of claim 7 wherein said compound is 1,2,3,9-tetramethyl-tricyclo(5,3,1,03,8)undecan-2-ol. 